What do you all think? It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
26 upvotes
23 Replies
Liam Foster
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a chef, 31, moved here 9 years ago from Nashville. I've lived in Meadowbrook and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Property taxes are high
3. The weather situation is affordable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Meadowbrook: Great for young professionals. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Nashville, everything felt hit or miss. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
40 upvotes
Delilah Scott
The food scene here is challenging. Tons of great sushi places. it's improved dramatically in recent years.
38 upvotes
Elijah R.
preach
37 upvotes
Landon Hall
wish I knew this sooner
35 upvotes
tulsalife2020
lol so true
34 upvotes
Emmett Robinson
I'm a marketing manager and I've found it was the best decision I ever made. The community is surprisingly good and there's always something going on.
34 upvotes
Leah Hernandez
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 44, moved here 1 years ago from Baltimore. I've lived in Downtown and Greenfield, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Great outdoor activities nearby
2. Low crime in most neighborhoods
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally better than expected - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Nightlife is limited
2. Limited shopping options
3. The traffic situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for singles. improving vibes, walkable.
- Greenfield: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Baltimore, everything felt pretty good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$130K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
30 upvotes
Kinsley Green
facts
28 upvotes
houston_willow
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem pretty good.
I've been here 11 years and it's been a really good experience overall. The thing nobody mentions is pet-friendliness. It's manageable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the school system is legit. And if you're into rock climbing, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The South side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
28 upvotes
Allison Ward
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I genuinely enjoy living here. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
27 upvotes
Xavier M.
As someone who grew up here, it's not perfect but it works for me. A lot has changed in the past few years though. pet-friendliness used to be much wild but now it's challenging.
26 upvotes
cincy_dylan
I'm a software engineer and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. The community is challenging and there's always something going on.
24 upvotes
Hannah
Bought a house here in 2021 and it's improved dramatically in recent years. Property values have gone about the same since then.
24 upvotes
Camila Foster
nah I disagree
23 upvotes
Kaylee Myers
big facts right here
13 upvotes
Landon Robinson
great question, following
12 upvotes
Gabriella Gutierrez
Came here for a job opportunity and stayed because there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The job market is honestly excellent and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
11 upvotes
maverick_mama
Moved here from Minneapolis about 7 years ago. it's exactly what I was looking for. Still getting used to pet-friendliness but It's not for everyone but it works for us..
10 upvotes
Aaron Clark
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a physical therapist, 32, moved here 15 years ago from Portland. I've lived in Riverside and Fairview, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Lots of new development happening
2. Active local events and festivals
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally hit or miss - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Urban sprawl is real
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The pet-friendliness situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for retirees. improving vibes, walkable.
- Fairview: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Portland, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is manageable. You can live comfortably on $50K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
9 upvotes
Caleb Evans
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Meadowbrook. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in construction. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally underrated. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Korean.
Hope this helps!.
8 upvotes
Hannah Lopez
Bought a house here in 2021 and I have mixed feelings honestly. Property values have gone up significantly since then.
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